Yoga Cleansing Techniques

Perhaps you’ve already started to feel how yoga can purify your mind. So you won’t be surprised when you learn that yoga is great for cleansing your body as well.

There are dozens of yoga cleansing techniques for virtually all parts of your body. Some of them may look strange or even repulsive, but yogis believe in the efficiency and numerous benefits of these ancient rituals. We’ve split some of these techniques into groups according to what is used for cleansing.

Cleansing with water

Vamandhouti – cleansing of the digestive system. It involves drinking of 1.5-2 liters of salty water and throwing it up. The water will carry away any impurities from your stomach and digestive system.

Jalneti helps you clean your nose. The process is performed with the help of the neti pot – a small pot with a long spout. Warm salty water is poured into one nostril, and it comes out out of the other. Jalneti is believed to relieve headaches, sinus infections and allergies.

Shankhaprakshalana literally flushes your internal system free of waste. This technique involves drinking lots of salty water, performing a special set of asanas and then letting the consumed water out of your body through your anus. The effect of shankhaprakshalana is similar to the effect of a long strict fast – total cleansing of the body, which can help cure gastro-intestinal and other kinds of diseases.

Cleansing with movement

Agnisardhouti cleanses the digestive system with quick movements of the stomach muscles. Through the massage of body organs it increases the flow of blood to the digestive organs and flushes away impurities.

Cleansing with devices

Vastradhouti involves swallowing a long clean strip of cloth, with part of the cloth remaining outside the mouth. The strip is then removed, carrying away all the impurities from the stomach, which benefits your digestive and overall health.

Jiva Sodhana – the practice of morning tongue scraping – removes the film that forms on the surface of the tongue during the night. Not only does it enhance the functioning of taste buds, it also helps fight bad breath and promotes better oral hygiene and health. In this process, a special tongue scraper is used, or you could just use a simple spoon.

Sutra neti – cleansing of the nasal passages with the help of a thread or rubber tube. The practitioner inserts one end of the thread into a nostril and pulls it out through the mouth.

Cleansing with breath

Kapalbhati is literally translated as cleansing of the skull. Practicing kapalabhati, one exhales sharply, contracting lower abdominal muscles, and inhales releasing them. Along with a good tone-up and massage for internal organs, kapalabhati is good when you’d like to clear your head.